Ruby Lenora (Punneo) Bernauer

Ruby Lenora (Punneo) Bernauer, 97, was born July 25, 1928 in Dequeen, Ark., and passed away on Sept. 26, 2025 in Houston, Mo.
She was born to Dora (Herman) Cowart and Claud Punneo, and grew up in Arkansas, later moving to California. She met her true love, Thomas “Tom” Bernauer at the Navy Pier and they were wed on Feb. 26, 1945, in Muskogee, Okla. They had five children: Jeanne, Elbert, Steven, Nancy and Carl. She and Tom moved to Republic in 2006. They were active members of their Lutheran Congregations in Lockwood and Republic.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom; siblings: Jesse, Claudia, Edith and Margarite; her babies: Carl, Steve and Jeanne; son-in-laws: Bill and Bob; daughters-in-law: Kathleen, Jean and Leoma; and granddaughter Debbie. She is survived by son: Elbert Bernauer, of Wichita, Kan.; daughter Nancy and Curt Cichon of Houston, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; as well as many in-laws, great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; along with many other loved ones and special long time friends - Connie, Anita, Candice, Sam and Thomas.
Funeral services are under the care of Meadors Funeral Home in Republic, with visitation at 10-11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, followed by funeral service at 11 a.m., with burial immediately following at Springfield Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m.